Gingival hyperplasia refers to a rare condition involving overgrowth or enlargement of the gums. This medical condition has a few other names associated with it– gingival hypertrophy, gingival overgrowth, and hypertrophic gingivitis. It has shown to be most prevalent in children with epilepsy. Gingival hyperplasia can as well be congenital, depending on which type it is.

Types of Gingival Hyperplasia

• Medication-induced Gingival Hyperplasia
• Inflammatory Gingival Hyperplasia
• Cancer-induced Gingival Hyperplasia
• False Gingival Hyperplasia
• Medical disorder Gingival Hyperplasia

As you can see, the different types of gingival hyperplasia are directly linked to the factors that cause them. Let us dig a little deeper and learn about the main factors that cause this rare medical condition.

Medication

Gingival hyperplasia can be induced by medication. These include immunesuppressants for transplant patients, anti-seizure medication, and calcium channel blockers or patients with cardiovascular conditions.

Congenital

This medical condition can be passed down hereditarily. In addition to this, pregnancies associated with metabolic disease can result to fetal valproate syndrome, a medical condition characterized by gum enlargement.

Inflammation

Inflammatory gingival hyperplasia is oftentimes chronic in nature. Some people, for example, mostly breathe through their mouths rather than their noses. This acquired mannerism can actually cause oral inflammation if not immediately attended to. One can also get inflammatory gingival hyperplasia through poor oral hygiene (gingivitis, excessive plaque build-up, etc.).

Other medical conditions

Gingival hyperplasia is also linked to a variety of other medical conditions. These include cancer–benign and malign, leukemia, sarcoidosis, granulomatosis, and vitamin c deficiency among many others.

Detached teeth or bone

False gingival hyperplasia is often caused by detached or underlying teeth or bone.

Conclusion

Gingival hyperplasia may be triggered by a myriad of factors, but one thing’s for sure– proper oral hygiene is not one to be neglected. Always bear in mind that having good dental habits keeps medical conditions like this one at bay.